Calling All Readers

June 2017 issue | Appears on page 40

Insurance company follow-through
travel map

Diane Robbins of Penfield, New York, wrote (Dec. ’16, pg. 53), “I would like to hear of the experiences of… travelers who, after having purchased travel insurance, had to cut short their vacations because of medical issues. Did each receive assistance, whether by telephone or in person, from a representative of the insurance company or [if on a cruise or tour] from the cruise line or tour company? Also, from whom did they purchase their insurance?”

We asked...

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May 2017 issue | Appears on page 37

Mileage program comparisons
frequent flyer miles airplane

Nancy Tan of Fresno, California, wrote, “I would be very interested in reading comparisons of airlines’ frequent-flyer-mileage programs from travelers who are members of more than one airline’s loyalty program.”

We asked those of you who are members of more than one airline’s or airline alliance’s frequent-flyer program to tell us which one you prefer and why. What are some specific differences between the programs? When you have a choice of...

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May 2017 issue | Appears on page 40

Narrow-gauge and offbeat railways
The train Lézard Rouge in the Seldja Gorge — Tunisia. Photo by Stephen Addison

Addressing ITN subscribers, we previously printed this information request from Jack and Elizabeth Kaufman of Lake Quivira, Kansas: “We would be interested in travelers’ suggestions for scenic or unusual railroad trips.

“Traveling by rail on narrow-gauge tracks or offbeat routes can provide fascinating insights into rural communities, not to mention incredible vistas. Some tourist spots can only be reached in this way. Whether it’s a route used primarily by...

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April 2017 issue | Appears on page 38

Mileage program comparisons

Nancy Tan of Fresno, California, wrote, “I would be very interested in reading comparisons of airlines’ frequent-flyer-mileage programs from travelers who are members of more than one airline’s loyalty program.”

We asked those of you who are members of more than one airline’s or airline alliance’s frequent-flyer program to tell us which one you prefer and why. What are some specific differences between the programs? When you have a choice of...

CONTINUE READING »
April 2017 issue | Appears on page 42

Narrow-gauge and offbeat railways

Addressing ITN subscribers, we previously printed the following information request from Jack and Elizabeth Kaufman of Lake Quivira, Kansas: “We would be interested in travelers’ suggestions for scenic or unusual railroad trips.

“Traveling by rail on narrow-gauge tracks or offbeat routes can provide fascinating insights into rural communities, not to mention incredible vistas. Some tourist spots can only be reached in this way. Whether it’s a route used...

CONTINUE READING »
March 2017 issue | Appears on page 36

Narrow-gauge and offbeat railways

Narrow-gauge and offbeat railways

Addressing ITN subscribers, we previously printed this information request from Jack and Elizabeth Kaufman of Lake Quivira, Kansas: “We would be interested in travelers’ suggestions for scenic or unusual railroad trips.

“Traveling by rail on narrow-gauge tracks or offbeat routes can provide fascinating insights into rural communities, not to mention incredible vistas. Some tourist spots can only be reached in this way. Whether...

CONTINUE READING »
February 2017 issue | Appears on page 34

No-fee debit and credit cards
stack of credit cards

For people wanting to purchase something while traveling in another country, the option that will save them the most money is making the purchase with a credit card that charges no foreign transaction fee, or FTF. The second-best option, usually, is making a direct purchase with a debit or credit card that DOES charge an FTF or spending cash retrieved from an ATM by using a debit card that charges an FTF.

After reading that in our September 2016 issue (page 2), Jane Holt of Hinesburg...

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February 2017 issue | Appears on page 37

Rating foreign tour companies that customize tours
A pod of hippopotamuses in the Okavango Delta — Botswana. Photo by Pat Steffes (for Judith Osmer)

In a few past issues, we printed letters from subscribers who responded to the information request of Yvonne Richter, who wrote, “My husband and I like to take customized private tours, and we prefer to use tour companies and guides that are local to the destinations. I would like travelers to write in about foreign tour companies and guides they’ve used for private tours, including as many of the following details as possible:

“The name and contact information of...

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